Minto moving forward after tragedies

IT HAS been a tough week for the Cutters - having to deal with the tragic loss of their teammate, Alex Elisala, is no easy matter.

There's no denying the physical prowess of the team that sits near the top of the ladder amidst the heavyweights of the competition, but Saturday will also be a different kind of test, one of their mental fortitude - emotions will run high, there's no getting away from it.

All the players will deal with Elisala's passing one way or another, but for Matt Minto, the return to footy this weekend comes after a tumultuous couple of weeks for him and his family.

"I had a few family members pass away in the last week or two.... my two nans and my auntie both passed away, actually two of my nans in the one week and my auntie was before that," an emotional Minto revealed.

"I've been up and down to Rocky quite a bit for the funerals and seeing them... in the hospital and stuff like that..."

Minto was given time off from the Cutters to be with his family during their ordeal and missed the drawn match against the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

The subsequent death of Cowboys-contracted Elisala has made it a tough couple of weeks for the five-eighth.

"I was struggling a week or two ago, but sort of alright now. I've been up around family and so had a lot of support and that, and all the boys in the side have helped out... quite a few have sent me texts throughout to check if I'm alright," he said.

Minto is tough and will lead by example.

"I'm good now and moving on, these things happen to everybody," he said.

Minto is keen to help the team find their winning way again, saying the Cutters are a different team to the one that went down 36-10 to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in round three.

"We copped a hiding then, but we're back at the stage we were trying to find our best starting 17 and working out combinations."

"I just think this time round we're a more organised side that knows what we're doing. I think this time round we'll be taking it to them rather than them bringing it to us."